Valve bonnet structure



X April 3, 1945. E. F. ALLEN 2,373,001

VALVE BONNET STRUCTURE Eiled DeC. '7, 1942 y A 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 3, 1945. E. F. ALLEN 2,373,001

- VALVE BONNET STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 7, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 mmm imm Patented Apr. 3, 194s VALV E BONNET STRUCTURE arle F. Allen, New York, N. Y., assigner to Manning, Maxwell & Moore, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New `lersey Application December 7, 1942, Serial No. 468,065

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to valves such as are employed fior controlling the ow of fluid through pipesv or conduits, and relates more particularly to an improved valve bonnet structure.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved bonnet structure .for valves. aording an adequate guide for a valve stem, insuring against leakage even at high pressure, and so designed as to permit replacement of the stem packing with a minimum of difficulty.

Other .and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed Yout hereinafter in the vfollowing more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings in wlfiichY Fig. `1 Ais 'a vertical section partly in elevation on the diametr-lcal plane of the .inlet and outlet passages oi the valve casing showing the invention embodied in a gate type valve;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the Jva'lveof Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on the line '3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l des- .y

ignates a valve of gate type embodying the present invention. The casing of this valve is of substantially D-shape in a plane perpen- -rdicularto the 'axis of the valve seat (Fig. 2) and `comprises a unitary wall member 2 of substantially U-shape consisting of a length of sheet metal bent on a circular arc to form a curved bottom wall and having the substantially paralie'lleg members v2a and 2b designed to form the opposite side walls of the valve casing. The casing also comprises the end members 3 and 4 which may likewise be made of sheet metal but preferably considerably thicker than the wall member 2. These end members 3 and 4 are so shaped that they may be fitted within the U-shaped side wall member 2 so as when assembled therewith to occupy the relative positions shown in Fig; 1, whereupon they are permanently united tothe 'edges'l and 8 of the side wall memberZ byweldin'g metal vindicated at I8 (Fig. 1). The casing `also comprises the top member or bonnet support 5 which is likewise of sheet metal of approximately the thickness of the end members 3 and 4, and whichV is of substantially rectangular contour, having the substantially straight opposite edges 5a and 5b which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the cuter surfaces of the leg members 2a and 2b of the U-shaped part 2. The part 2 is preferably thickened toward its upper edges by means of block 9 and 13,' respectively, of metal welded to the inner surfaces of the legs 2a and 2h. In the louter-edges of these thickened Vportions of the part 2 there are formed tapped sockets H, which are designed to receive bolts Il by means of which the member 5 is removably secured to the side wall vmember 2. The member 5 also has opposite straight edges which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of the assembled members 3 and Ll. Openings are formed along these edges of this top member for the reception of bolts H5a which enter tapped sockets provided in the upper edges of the end members 3 and 4.

The end members 3 and 4 are `furnished with iluid flow apertures or ports 3X and 4X, respectively, one of which nmay be an inlet passage and the other a delivery passage, both communicating with the ,valve chamber dened by the parts 2. 3, 4 and 5. The members 3 and 4 are provided with nished outer surfaces surrounding the openings 3X and 4X, respectively, such surfaces preferably constituting the' outer faces of annular low bosses I4 designed to make leak-tight contact with other parts with which the Valve may be associated. for example, with pipe flanges or with flanges or surfaces of fluid containers such, for instance, as a steam generator or the like. The inner surface of the part 3, as illustrated in Fig. l. is beveled to provide an annular valve seat I9 with which cooperates a valve head or feather 2li having a beveled face `i for engagement With the seat. This valve head is iurnishedwith a stem 22 which passes through an opening in the arm 23 of a bell ycrank lever 24 which is pivoted at 25 within the valve chamber. The valve stem may be secured to the arm 23 by means of a nut 26 and cotter pin 2l or by any other suitable means of attachment. The lever 2li is furnished with a second arm 28 having an inclined slot 29 which receives a crank pin 3! projecting from lever 3l pivoted at 32 Within the valve chamber. This lever 3| isy connected at a point intermediate its ends, by means of a link 33, to the lower end of the valve stem 34. This valve stem extends up through a large centra-l opening 35 in the member 5 and through a stuffing box Se. The stuffing box has a flange 3'! which is Welded'leaktight at 38 to the member 5. Surrounding the stem 34, within the stuffing box, is a body of compressible packing material 39 which is normally held under compression by means of a gland B0. This gland is provided with a pair of oppositely directed ears 4I and 42 which are normally engaged by nuts l and 52 respectively, having threaded engagement with a pair of parallel posts 44 and 45, whose lower ends are screwed into threaded bores in the member 5 and are preferably welded at 46 (Fig. 1) to the member 5. Near their upper ends the posts 44 and 45 carry a bridge member '47 which is held in place by means of nuts 48 at the upper ends of the posts. 'I'his bridge member has a central, internally screwthreaded boss or stem-bearing 49 which engages screw threads 50 on the upper portion of the stem 34, the latter having an actuating wheel or handle 5l by means of which it may be turned. 'Iurning the stem 34 swings the lever 3| and by means of the pin 30 and slotted arm 28 moves the valve head 2U toward and from the seat I9. When in fully open position the valve head 20 is elevated to such a point within the valve chamber that it does not seriously interfere with the free flow of fluid entering, for example, through the passage 4X and leaving through the delivery opening 3X so that; the valve thus constructed constitutes a satisfactory gate valve.

The packing in the stuffing box 35 is of substantial length so as to insure adequate packing of the valve stem, even though the valve be subjected to extremely high pressures. The packing may be compressed by turning the nuts 5I and 52, but if it be desired to retract the packing gland from the stung box, it is merely necessary to loosen the nuts 5! and 52 slightly so that the gland may be turned angularly sufficiently to disengage its ears 4I and 42 from the nuts, whereupon the gland may be moved'freely upwardly out of the stuing box without necessitating a long retraction of the nuts relative to the posts 44 and 45.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the end members 3 and 4 are preferably provided with series of tapped sockets l5 arranged in a circle concentric with the openings 3X and 4X, respectively, such circle being of a radius less than the radius of the curved edges 3a of the parts 3 and 4. These tapped sockets I5 are designed for the reception of bolts or equivalent fasteners by means of which the casing is secured to other parts, for example to pipe iianges.

While the improved bonnet structure comprising the member 5 and the parts carried there of nuts having threaded engagement with the respective posts, the gland having diametrically opposite integral rigid ears, the ears` being too short to engage the posts but being long enough for normal engagement by the respectivenuts whereby the gland may be forced into the stufiing box by turning the nuts, the gland being rotatable to permit the ears to be disengaged from the nuts at will thereby to allow the gland to be withdrawn freely out from the stuiiing box.

, 2. A valve comprising a bonnet support having an opening for the passage of the valve stem, a pair of posts rigidly secured to the bonnet support at diametrically opposite sides of the opening, a bridge member normally xed to the posts, said bridge member carrying an internally screwthreaded stem-bearing, a stem having threaded engagement with the bearing and extending through the opening in the support, a stuffing box mounted onV the support between the posts, a packing gland cooperable with the stuiing box to compress packing withinthe latter, and a pair of nuts having threaded engagement with the new bonnet structure is not limited in its applicability to a valve or valve casing of the specic structure herein disclosed, butl is of general utility in valves having packed stems. It is further to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the precise details herein specically disclosed but'is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of any and al1 modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

ll. A valve comprising a bonnet support; having an opening for the passage of a valve stem, a pair of posts permanently welded to the bonnet support at diametrically opposite sides of the opening, a bridge member normally fixed to the posts, said bridge member carrying an internally screwrespective posts, the gland having a pair of diametrically opposite ears normally positioned to be engaged by the respective nuts, whereby the gland may be forced into the 'stufling box, the gland being rotatable to permit said ears tobe .disengaged from the nuts at will, thereby to allow aV valve4 actuating stem passing through the" stuing box into said chamber, means for turning the valve stem, a pair of parallel posts dis posed respectively at diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the. stumng box, one end of each post being welded rigidly to the casing, a bridge member normally xed to the posts and spaced axially of the stem from that part `of the casing which defines the stufllng box, said bridge member carrying an internally screw-threaded stem-bearing, the valve actuating stem having threaded engagement; with said stem-bearing, a packing gland cooperable with the stuiiing box to compress packing within the latter end, the packing gland being of an external diameter such as to clear the posts, a pair of nuts having threaded engagement with the respective posts, the packing gland having diametrically opposite integral rigid ears, the ears being too short to engage the posts but being long enough for normal engagement by the respective nuts whereby the gland may be forced into the stuing box by turning the nuts, the gland being rotatable to permit said ears to be disengaged from the nuts at will, thereby to allowthe gland to be moved freely out of the stufl'lng box axially of the valve stem.

EARLE F. ALLEN. 

